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Alvernia Alumni honored for career and community service

by Alvernia University

May 21, 2019

Inaugural Four Under Forty award honors service-oriented alumni

READING, Pa. – For their notable career success and ongoing community service efforts, four young Alvernia alumni earned the university’s inaugural Four Under Forty Award and were honored at the institutions’ 58th  annual Commencement Ceremony.

The inaugural class of recipients includes Emily Berret ’11, Amy Klatt ’08 M’09, Steve Koons ’05 and Melissa Masone Ulmer ’09.

Developed this year by the Alvernia Alumni Council and Young Alumni Committee, this award was created to recognize the exceptional achievements of young alumni.

In addition to career and community service success, the honorees demonstrate loyal support for the advancement and growth of their Alvernia, and dedication to the university’s core values in their personal and professional lives.

Please visit the Alvernia Alumni website for more information regarding news, awards and upcoming events.

ABOUT BERRET

Since 2013, Berret has worked in the United States House of Representatives for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and now as the Director of Operations for Speaker Pelosi. The 2011 Alvernia graduate has also worked as a Staff Assistant in the White House Office of Management and Administration under President Barack Obama and as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers at the White House.

She assists Alvernia students at The Washington Center in D.C., is a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Alvernia and is a mentor to three students for the Alvernia Women’s Council. She also participates in All-In for Alvernia, Alvernia’s giving day during May.

In addition to her involvement with Alvernia and the service to her job, she is also a volunteer with BREW Beagle Rescue in Virginia.

ABOUT KLATT

Klatt, a two-time Alvernia graduate, currently serves as the marketing manager at Herbein + Company, Inc., located in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she is responsible for all digital marketing, events and proposal writing.

Klatt currently serves on the Communications Advisory Board of Alvernia University where she has developed real-world learning opportunities Alvernia students and shares her experiences and expertise as part of Alvernia courses.

Klatt founded Marketing Around Berks, a roundtable-driven organization that allows local marketers to share and learn from each other. She serves on several committees in the Reading area including the advisory board for Leadership Berks, the editorial committee of the Greater Reading Women 2 Women and steering committee of the Greater Reading Cops ‘n Kids.

ABOUT KOONS

Koons, who received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Management with a minor in Political Science from Alvernia University in 2005, is currently a partner with Cotton & Company, LLP, an audit and accounting firm located in Alexandria, Virginia.

He is a former adjunct professor of accounting for Northern Virginia Community College and is a board member for Capitol Hill Group Ministry, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and families facing homelessness and other crises.

Koons has been committed to Alvernia since he graduated, providing a gift to the Alvernia Fund every year since 2005. He serves the Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter by planning events, connecting to alumni in the area, hosting interns and engaging students at the Washington Center.

ABOUT ULMER

Ulmer, a 2009 Alvernia graduate who triple majored in communications, political science and English, currently serves as the assistant director for marketing and student programs at Rowan University.

Ulmer is an active member of the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education where she has held several chair positions as well as National Association for Campus Activities (NACA). She also regularly works with Special Olympics.

She founded the Alvernia Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter in 2012 and supported the Alvernia Fund every year following her graduation. She also serves on the Alumni Council where she now serves on the alumni and student engagement committee and is co-chair of the marketing committee.

Photo courtesy of Susan Angstadt and Alvernia University

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